I was born during WWII in San Francisco, California, spending most of my life living and working in California and Arizona. In the early 1900's all of my family relocated here to Arizona where I later joined them in the 1970's.

    I live on the border of Arizona and New Mexico, in the White Mountains of "Apache Country". My home is at an elevation of 8,000 ft. just below the sixth highest peak in Arizona, along highway 191 the historical scenic Colorado Trail. Highway 191 is a very popular motorcycle route during the summer. As summertime approaches in this tiny mountain town of 350 people, you can hear the load musical roar of hundreds of scooters rumbling through going somewhere. Highway 191 unknown to many is one of the only two highways in the west running North to South beginning at the Arizona/Mexico border and ending at the Montana/Canada border. 

    The first motorcycle I bought as I recall was an old beat up 1940 Harley 3-speed that I paid $175.00 for in 1958 before I even had a driver's license. It looked like it came out of the Korean War. The guy couldn't sell it until I came along must have been because my feet touched the ground. (grin) This took place in Cottonwood, Arizona. Cottonwood had a population of about 1,200, one paved road which was the main highway running through it and one cop. The town had miles of dirt roads on which to ride that ugly hog.

    In late 1959, I moved back to the San Jose area and joined a car club "The Kamlords of Cupertino", during the "American Graffiti " time of low ridden in a hot rod, driven down main street USA going drive-inn to drive-inn listing to the music of the 50's and 60's and tuned into the "Wolfman Jack" show. Oh! those oldies but goodies were a great time to be a part of.

    In 1962, I registered with the AMA obtaining my Sportsman's motorcycle card and began racing the T-T circuit in Northern California racing with a T-T team in the 350 and 650cc class. Racing a 30/50cc, 650cc Triumph and a 900ccc XLR Harley. The 900 XLR was a special built racing bike for racing the mile before I bought it and toned it down for the T-Teeing, it was bad to the bone and almost killed me in a night race in Hayward, California. That was the end of my T-T racing. 

    What happened next might have been kind of crazy on my part. From 1964 to 1971, I found myself riding  in my first Outlaw bike club and before long I ended up riding with two of the biggest Outlaw bike clubs in California at that time. In those days you rode fast and hard, became tuff or you didn't make it some even ended up DOA.

    Growing up in the 50's, just coming out at the end of what was McCarthyism and into the 60's was one hell of a culture shock. In 1964, I found myself in the middle of one of this countries most rebellious times since the 1920's. Corruption in the Government, from top to bottom was running high and the younger generation was running amok in the streets of USA. We had the Vietnam War and Nixon, the Outlaw Bikers, Hippies of Height-Ash bury and right wing radicals in San Francisco. Put that all together with Timothy Learey, Ken Keasey, Osley and purple haze, the drugs, and the sexual revelation, Bee-inns, Fillmore West with the Rock n' Roll bands and you have the 60's. It's a damn wonder any of us made it this far or lived through all of that. 

    I guess I'm somewhat of a grandfather to all this that I saw and did in those 60's. I do have quite a lot of memories of those times as a biker. Some good times and some very sad ones, but something I will never forget in my life time, I'm glad I was born at the right time to be a part of those crazy 60's.  Through all this I managed with my wife Betty, to raise two wonderful children, both with excellent career's today. During the 1960's I went to Construction trade school at San Jose City Jr. College, in  California. Two years later I attended D.V.T. , trade school where I learned saddle making, leather crafting and airbrush art. While going to D.V.T. trade school I worked as a writer for the Tracy Observer in Tracy California. Later I opened my first saddle and leather clothing business in Prescott, Arizona, joined the US Prescott Jaycee's. Rejoined the World's Oldest Rodeo, in which I have been a member since 1989. Volunteering my time to help put on a rodeo to raise thousands of dollars for charity. In 2001, I re-opened my Tack and Leather Shop working out of a small shop built next to my home. Now I'm an old burned out humbled biker at heart with lots of time on my hands to travel, write and do photo-shoots for my website Biker Rally News, and for Roadhouse as well as Photo Team USA.

    I would like to thank Wino Joe my tight biker brother who I rode with in those 60's. My tight sister Phyllis and tight buddies Michael X and his wife Gail also from the 60's bunch for being my mentors and encouraging me to get back into the biker scene. Also to one foxy lady, Lisa McA., who gave me my first PC and introduced me into the PC world.

Frenchy

E-Mail: frenchy@bikerrallynews.com